How do I commission a portrait of my own?
Our pets are a vibrant part of our families, and as such, hold a unique place of honor in our homes. A hand-painted portrait is a special, one-of-a-kind way to celebrate and commemorate your beloved, one-of-a-kind family member. If you’ve never commissioned a custom portrait before, artist Anna Dolly will walk you through her process.
1) Consider your budget and wall space to determine which size you would like
2) Choose a suitable reference photo by following the instructions below
3) Read through the following information, FAQ, and Sample Contract
4) Fill out the commission request form when you are ready to commit
Sizes and Pricing
Your portrait is painted in acrylic on wrapped canvas, which is stretched and wrapped around the edges, so you can hang it framed or unframed. Each portrait is varnished upon completion to protect it. The edges will be painted in the background color you’ve chosen. Artist will include a professional hanging wire making the painting ready to hang upon delivery. Framing, if desired, is the responsibility of the client.
Available sizes and pricing:
6”x6” single subject portrait, $126
8”x8” single subject portrait, $224
10”x10” single subject portrait, $350
Should you prefer artwork other than what is offered above, requests may be accommodated by the artist for an additional fee.
Shipping and Insurance costs are the responsibility of the client and will be added to the price of the portrait. An estimate will be given prior to payment.
Reference Photo Guidelines:
The better the quality of your reference photo, the happier you will be with the end result. Lighting, clarity, positioning, and distance are important considerations for a portrait that stands the test of time. For a portrait you’ll cherish, follow these guidelines:
1) Focus: choose a photo that offers a clean, clear, and close-up representation of your pet’s face. The entire face should be in focus and large enough to see well.
2) Angle: be at eye level with your pet, avoid images looking down on or up at your pet’s face.
3) Lighting: avoid photos with dark shadows. The artist needs to be able to see the details within any darker parts of the face. If you can, photograph your pet outdoors in sunlight. If you’re taking a photo indoors, turn on the lights.
Use the examples below to help you find, or take, a suitable high-quality reference photo.
Keep in mind that professional photographs are not suitable for this purpose due to copyright protection. You should be the photographer.
Photo Comparison Samples
The warm sunshine and a relaxed, interested horse make for a really nice reference photo. Babe’s lovely coloring and kind eye are in evidence here. Notice that while one side of his face is in shadow, his features are still very clear.
Angle and Shadows
Tip: Click on any image to view detail.
This image is less than stellar for a portrait reference. Babe is performing his best imitation of a giraffe, the image is shot from below, and the heavily overcast day obscures detail in his face and mutes his coloring. He is distracted.
Nice clear detail, shiny coat~ Bam Bam is one happy pup…all ingredients for a great reference photo!
Resolution and Distance
Tip: Your photo does not have to be huge to be a good reference photo, but it should be of a decent resolution. A photo with 75DPI should not be considered, while it may look fine on your screen, it will be pixelated if the artist needs to zoom in at all. Bam Bam’s photo to the left is 300DPI and 204KB file size, which would work beautifully. If you are not sure how to find this information, please ask.
This photo is not a good choice for a reference image. The lighting is poor, his eyes are half-closed, and his mouth is half-open. The inferior lighting, coupled with the snow and the distance from which the photo was taken makes it extremely difficult to see Bam Bam’s facial features and rich coloring.
For indoor lighting, this is very suitable for a reference image. Rio’s shine and the detail in his face and coat are clear, and he has lighting from several different directions.
Indoor Lighting
Tip: here’s where to use a critical eye! Bright light is wonderful for showing off the shine in your pet’s coat, however, backlighting- as in Roxy’s case here (right)- takes away from her features.
Super bright light shining in their face can create washed-out coloring, whether they’re indoors or out.
While the play of light is far more interesting in Roxy’s photo, the bright light behind her blots out any definition and detail in the right side of her face.
The bright shade allows us to see really nice detail and the variety of coloring in Wiley’s face. This would make a nice reference photo.
Expression
Tip: While lighting, distance, and clarity are important for a terrific reference photo, they aren’t the only qualities to be considered. Your pet’s expression is vital, too! On the left, Wiley looks far more confident than she does in the image to the right.
While the lighting is similar to the first photo, perhaps even nicer, in this view we are looking slightly down at Wiley. She gives the appearance of being in trouble or worried.
Background Color and Other Details
Attempting to perfectly match the exact shade of your interior décor can be a frustrating-if not impossible- endeavor. Opting for a complementary color instead is preferable. You might consider what would enhance your pet’s coloring- for example, pets who have tans, browns, and reds would go well with blue or green. For pets with black, white, or grey coloring, consider complementing their eye color with purples, blues, or greens.
Consider whether or not to include your pet’s collar, his or her groomed appearance, maybe the pup’s tongue is hanging out or the cat has one eye half-closed. These specifics will likely matter to you, so you’ll want to examine what is- or is not- included in the photo you choose so that the final painting truly reflects what you want.
You’re Ready!
Once you’ve chosen just the right photo, canvas size, your background color, and have identified any details that are important to you, you’re ready to put down your deposit and secure scheduling for your portrait. Once your contract is signed by both you and the artist, you will be invoiced through PayPal (you do not need to have a PayPal account). Be sure to read the FAQ section and Sample Contract prior to filling out the Commission Request Form
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read through the FAQ by clicking the button to the right.
Sample Contract
Please read through the sample contract by clicking the button to the right.
Commission Request Form
I understand that by submitting a Commission Request Form that I have read all of the information, Sample Contract, and FAQ on this page and understand the process that I am committing to. I have selected my portrait size/price option below, and understand that shipping will be estimated prior to the beginning of work.
Artist may accommodate additional requests for an additional fee. I understand that by submitting this form, I am committing to the process of hiring Anna Dolly to paint a custom pet portrait.